MEET:
Sarah Sackman
"She's smart, direct and persuasive in her advocacy."
Chambers & Partners 2021
Sarah has a wide-ranging and successful public law practice which spans Matrix’s core areas. Sarah’s work encompasses public, planning, environmental, education, local government, election, rating and discrimination law.
Her experience covers the appellate courts at all levels including the Supreme Court. She also regularly appears at planning inquiries. Sarah specialises in High Court/JR work acting for claimants and public bodies alike. Notable clients include the Equalities and Human Rights Commission, Mayor of London, Liberty, Friends of the Earth and Shelter.
As a member of the Attorney General’s B Panel since 2020, Sarah is regularly instructed by the Government. Sarah is a member of the EHRC Panel of Counsel. She is committed to publicly funded work and in appropriate cases acts pro bono.
Sarah is recognised in the major legal directories: in Legal 500 Sarah is ranked as a leading junior in Public, Environmental, Planning and Local Government Law and in Chambers and Partners as a leading practitioner in Planning, Election and Rating Law. Sarah is described as:
“A highly talented public lawyer, she is very bright and has particular strength in dealing with complex tactical issues.”
Sarah holds an LLM from Harvard University. She is a visiting lecturer at the London School of Economics Cities Programme where she teaches a graduate seminar on ‘Law and the City’. She also teaches at the UCL Bartlett School and has published widely in academic and practitioner texts.
- Pearce v Parole Board [2020] EWHC 3437 (Admin) – JR of Parole Board’s Guidance on unproven allegations against a prisoner. Instructed to appear in Court of Appeal in Autumn 2021.
- Poole v Birmingham Council [2021] EWHC 1198 – JR of Birmingham City Council’s new Street Trading Policy.
- Rothschild v London Borough of Hackney [2021] –High Court challenge to new parking zone on equalities grounds.
- R (oao Buckingham) v NHS Corby Clinical Commissioning Group [2019] EWHC 2080 (Admin) – Led Aidan Wills in successful JR challenging closure of urgent care centre in Corby.
- R (oao application of Peters) v Haringey LBC [2018] EWHC 192 (Admin) – Led by David Wolfe QC JR of decision to establish £2 billion development vehicle.
- Coughlan v Minister for the Cabinet Office [2021] 1 All E.R. 868 – Challenge to Voter ID pilots. Supreme Court appeal February 2022. Led by Tony Peto QC.
- Voloseniuc v Akram [2021] 2 WLUK 322 (Div Ct) – local government election petition for successful Labour councillors.
- Malik v Stephen Timms MP [2020] – Parliamentary election petition for successful Respondent MP.
- Gardner v Forbes [2020] EWHC 676 (QB) –Parliamentary election petition. Secured Secured full costs following withdrawal and abatement of petition due to dissolution of Parliament for General Election. Led by Gavin Millar QC.
- Wigan Athletic v HMRC [2019] UKUT 389 (LC) – led by Hui Ling McCarthy QC acting for successful Respondent. Issue waswhether relegation from the Premier League justified revaluation of a football stadium.
- Corkish v Berg [2019] EWHC 2521 (Admin) –Instructed by HMRC in Council Tax appeal on meaning of “dwelling”
Currently advising HMRC on impact of Covid-19 on business rates and instructed in:
- Heathrow Airport Ltd v VOA (ongoing) – JR re: impact of Covid regulations on business rates
- Aceden Ltd v Bailey (hearing July 2021) – test case on valuation of office fit out costs
- Rowbell Leisure Ltd v Corkish (VO) (ongoing) – Upper Tribunal appeal on valuation of overtrading in public houses.
- R (oao Flynn) v LB of Southwark [2021] EWCA Civ 827 – led by David Wolfe QC, significant planning case on approach to members’ delegation to officers to negotiate s.106 agreements.
- Smith v SSCHLG [2021] EWHC 1650– intervention for Liberty challenging definition of “Gypsies and Travellers” in national planning policy.
- Mayor of London v Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government [2020] EWHC 1176 – led by Douglas Edwards QC, represented Mayor in challenge to Respondent’s approach to Green Belt and inquiry costs.
- Chilton Parish Council v Babergh District [2019] EWHC 280 (Admin) –for Claimant of planning permission challenging use of draft housing land supply figure.
- R(oao Buckley) v Bath and North East Somerset [2019] P.T.S.R 335 –instructed sole counsel in JR for successful Claimant re: planning and PSED.
Education:
- LLM, Harvard Law School, LLM (Distinction) (Frank Knox scholarship)
- Graduate Diploma in Law, City University (Distinction)
- BA in History, Queens’ College, Cambridge, (First Class)
Teaching & Advocacy
- School governor for 4 years in state primary in Camden.
- Stood for Parliament in target seat in 2015
- Volunteer at Toynbee Hall Free Legal Advice Centre.
- Judicial clerkship at the Supreme Court of Israel, Jerusalem (Inner Temple
Scholarship) (2008). - Human Rights training at the British Council in Yangon, Burma (2013).
Memberships
- Education Law Association (ELAS)
- Administrative Law Bar Association (ALBA)
- Human Rights Law Association (HRLA)
- United Kingdom Environmental Law Association (UKELA)
- Planning and Environmental Bar Association (PEBA)
- Education Law Association (ELAS)
- Administrative Law Bar Association (ALBA)
- Human Rights Law Association (HRLA)
- United Kingdom Environmental Law Association (UKELA)
- Planning and Environmental Bar Association (PEBA)
- “Community Led Regeneration – A Toolkit for Residents and Planners” UCL Press (2020)
- Equalities law chapter in Law Reform 2015, ed. Stephen Hockman QC (Profile Books, 2015)
- “Debating Democracy and the Ban on Political Advertising”, Modern Law Review, 475-487 (May, 2009)
- “Waste Law” with Gregory Jones, Environmental Law and Property Transactions, Waite eds. Bloomsbury Professional, 4th ed, February 2016
- Contributor to The Law of Regulatory Enforcement and Sanctions (Norris and
- Phillips, OUP, 2011) Complying with the equality duty, Solicitors Journal (2011), 155(40), 19
- Apportioning the costs of settled judicial review cases, Solicitors Journal (2012), 156(28), 21
- “Planning Law Update”, with Gregory Jones, Solicitors Journal, December 2008 and September 2009
- Assisted Lord Steyn in the preparation of the Boydell Lecture on “Defamation and Privacy” (26 May 2010)
Sarah is committed to protecting and respecting your privacy. In order to provide legal services to her clients, including advice and representation services, Sarah needs to collect and hold personal data. This includes her client’s personal data and the personal data of others who feature in the matter upon which she is instructed. To read Sarah’s privacy notice in full, please see here.
“She is a very able advocate with very good judgement.”
"She has a broad practice and covers a lot of local government work." "A very clear and compelling advocate."
"She is very approachable, easy to work with and really gets to the nub of the issue."
“Sarah is a very good lawyer, who is very knowledgeable.” “Very bright and has a broad public law practice.”
"Sarah has a particular strength in planning and a real feel for how the planning system works in practice. She knows the law well."
"Sarah has a really good feel for local government law. She combines strong public law expertise with a very solid understanding of how local authorities work in practice."
"Sarah is an impressive, energetic counsel who is politically engaged and loves a challenge. A big personality and great to have on a team."
"She's a hard-working, creative and effective barrister." "She's enthusiastic, bright, organised and good on paper."
"She's smart, direct and persuasive in her advocacy." "A good performer in court."
"Sarah's written advice is very thorough and clear, and she is a confident and articulate advocate." "She's great to work with."
"Approachable and good both on paper and on her feet."
"She is very bright, with good legal knowledge, and a particular strength in dealing with complex tactical issues."
"Sarah is highly driven and motivated. She is a great junior who is really excellent to work with. She is extremely knowledgeable and writes very clearly and concisely. She is also great with the clients and at dealing with practical matters."
"One to watch. She is developing a formidable practice in planning law and public law more generally. Her strengths appear to lie in High Court challenges, acting (often successfully) for the underdog. She’s extremely approachable and great with clients, who appreciate who can-do attitude, and honesty."
"One of the best of her generation, she has very strong interpersonal skills and great legal creativity."
"She's very flexible at adapting to an unfolding situation and firm in here own views as well. She is also very good at working in a team and taking a collegiate approach." "Very reassuring and approachable for clients."
"She stays calm when the pressure is on."
"She's very good, she knows her stuff, is very good with clients and writes very well."
"A very thorough strategic grasp and a light touch" "she's very good with clients".
"An extremely thorough, confident and competent advocate. Sources predict a fine future for her."
+44 (0)20 7404 3447
"She's smart, direct and persuasive in her advocacy."
Chambers & Partners 2021
MAIN AREAS OF PRACTICE
- Private International Law
- Public Law
- Education Law
- Election Law
- Environmental Law and Natural Resources
Sarah Sackman
Contact Sarah: sarahsackman@matrixlaw.co.uk | +44 (0)20 7404 3447
Contact Sarah's Practice Team (Team X): TeamX@matrixlaw.co.uk
Sarah has a wide-ranging and successful public law practice which spans Matrix’s core areas. Sarah’s work encompasses public, planning, environmental, education, local government, election, rating and discrimination law.
Her experience covers the appellate courts at all levels including the Supreme Court. She also regularly appears at planning inquiries. Sarah specialises in High Court/JR work acting for claimants and public bodies alike. Notable clients include the Equalities and Human Rights Commission, Mayor of London, Liberty, Friends of the Earth and Shelter.
As a member of the Attorney General’s B Panel since 2020, Sarah is regularly instructed by the Government. Sarah is a member of the EHRC Panel of Counsel. She is committed to publicly funded work and in appropriate cases acts pro bono.
Sarah is recognised in the major legal directories: in Legal 500 Sarah is ranked as a leading junior in Public, Environmental, Planning and Local Government Law and in Chambers and Partners as a leading practitioner in Planning, Election and Rating Law. Sarah is described as:
“A highly talented public lawyer, she is very bright and has particular strength in dealing with complex tactical issues.”
Sarah holds an LLM from Harvard University. She is a visiting lecturer at the London School of Economics Cities Programme where she teaches a graduate seminar on ‘Law and the City’. She also teaches at the UCL Bartlett School and has published widely in academic and practitioner texts.
Public Law
Pearce v Parole Board [2020] EWHC 3437 (Admin) – JR of Parole Board’s Guidance on unproven allegations against a prisoner. Instructed to appear in Court of Appeal in Autumn 2021. Poole v Birmingham Council [2021] EWHC 1198 – JR of Birmingham City Council’s new Street Trading Policy. Rothschild v London Borough of Hackney [2021] –High Court challenge to new parking zone on equalities grounds. R (oao Buckingham) v NHS Corby Clinical Commissioning Group [2019] EWHC 2080 (Admin) – Led Aidan Wills in successful JR challenging closure of urgent care centre in Corby. R (oao application of Peters) v Haringey LBC [2018] EWHC 192 (Admin) – Led by David Wolfe QC JR of decision to establish £2 billion development vehicle.Election Law
Coughlan v Minister for the Cabinet Office [2021] 1 All E.R. 868 – Challenge to Voter ID pilots. Supreme Court appeal February 2022. Led by Tony Peto QC. Voloseniuc v Akram [2021] 2 WLUK 322 (Div Ct) – local government election petition for successful Labour councillors. Malik v Stephen Timms MP [2020] – Parliamentary election petition for successful Respondent MP. Gardner v Forbes [2020] EWHC 676 (QB) –Parliamentary election petition. Secured Secured full costs following withdrawal and abatement of petition due to dissolution of Parliament for General Election. Led by Gavin Millar QC.Local Government Finance/Rating
Wigan Athletic v HMRC [2019] UKUT 389 (LC) – led by Hui Ling McCarthy QC acting for successful Respondent. Issue waswhether relegation from the Premier League justified revaluation of a football stadium. Corkish v Berg [2019] EWHC 2521 (Admin) –Instructed by HMRC in Council Tax appeal on meaning of “dwelling” Currently advising HMRC on impact of Covid-19 on business rates and instructed in: Heathrow Airport Ltd v VOA (ongoing) – JR re: impact of Covid regulations on business rates Aceden Ltd v Bailey (hearing July 2021) – test case on valuation of office fit out costs Rowbell Leisure Ltd v Corkish (VO) (ongoing) – Upper Tribunal appeal on valuation of overtrading in public houses.Planning/Environmental High Court work
R (oao Flynn) v LB of Southwark [2021] EWCA Civ 827 – led by David Wolfe QC, significant planning case on approach to members’ delegation to officers to negotiate s.106 agreements. Smith v SSCHLG [2021] EWHC 1650– intervention for Liberty challenging definition of “Gypsies and Travellers” in national planning policy. Mayor of London v Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government [2020] EWHC 1176 – led by Douglas Edwards QC, represented Mayor in challenge to Respondent’s approach to Green Belt and inquiry costs. Chilton Parish Council v Babergh District [2019] EWHC 280 (Admin) –for Claimant of planning permission challenging use of draft housing land supply figure. R(oao Buckley) v Bath and North East Somerset [2019] P.T.S.R 335 –instructed sole counsel in JR for successful Claimant re: planning and PSED.Education and Teaching
Education: LLM, Harvard Law School, LLM (Distinction) (Frank Knox scholarship) Graduate Diploma in Law, City University (Distinction) BA in History, Queens’ College, Cambridge, (First Class) Teaching & Advocacy School governor for 4 years in state primary in Camden. Stood for Parliament in target seat in 2015 Volunteer at Toynbee Hall Free Legal Advice Centre. Judicial clerkship at the Supreme Court of Israel, Jerusalem (Inner Temple Scholarship) (2008). Human Rights training at the British Council in Yangon, Burma (2013). Memberships Education Law Association (ELAS) Administrative Law Bar Association (ALBA) Human Rights Law Association (HRLA) United Kingdom Environmental Law Association (UKELA) Planning and Environmental Bar Association (PEBA)Memberships
Education Law Association (ELAS) Administrative Law Bar Association (ALBA) Human Rights Law Association (HRLA) United Kingdom Environmental Law Association (UKELA) Planning and Environmental Bar Association (PEBA)Publications
“Community Led Regeneration – A Toolkit for Residents and Planners” UCL Press (2020) Equalities law chapter in Law Reform 2015, ed. Stephen Hockman QC (Profile Books, 2015) “Debating Democracy and the Ban on Political Advertising”, Modern Law Review, 475-487 (May, 2009) “Waste Law” with Gregory Jones, Environmental Law and Property Transactions, Waite eds. Bloomsbury Professional, 4th ed, February 2016 Contributor to The Law of Regulatory Enforcement and Sanctions (Norris and Phillips, OUP, 2011) Complying with the equality duty, Solicitors Journal (2011), 155(40), 19 Apportioning the costs of settled judicial review cases, Solicitors Journal (2012), 156(28), 21 “Planning Law Update”, with Gregory Jones, Solicitors Journal, December 2008 and September 2009 Assisted Lord Steyn in the preparation of the Boydell Lecture on “Defamation and Privacy” (26 May 2010)Sarah's Privacy Notice
Sarah is committed to protecting and respecting your privacy. In order to provide legal services to her clients, including advice and representation services, Sarah needs to collect and hold personal data. This includes her client’s personal data and the personal data of others who feature in the matter upon which she is instructed. To read Sarah’s privacy notice in full, please see here.
DIRECTORY RECOMMENDATIONS
“She is a very able advocate with very good judgement.”
"She has a broad practice and covers a lot of local government work." "A very clear and compelling advocate."
"She is very approachable, easy to work with and really gets to the nub of the issue."
“Sarah is a very good lawyer, who is very knowledgeable.” “Very bright and has a broad public law practice.”
"Sarah has a particular strength in planning and a real feel for how the planning system works in practice. She knows the law well."
"Sarah has a really good feel for local government law. She combines strong public law expertise with a very solid understanding of how local authorities work in practice."
"Sarah is an impressive, energetic counsel who is politically engaged and loves a challenge. A big personality and great to have on a team."
"She's a hard-working, creative and effective barrister." "She's enthusiastic, bright, organised and good on paper."
"She's smart, direct and persuasive in her advocacy." "A good performer in court."
"Sarah's written advice is very thorough and clear, and she is a confident and articulate advocate." "She's great to work with."
"Approachable and good both on paper and on her feet."
"She is very bright, with good legal knowledge, and a particular strength in dealing with complex tactical issues."
"Sarah is highly driven and motivated. She is a great junior who is really excellent to work with. She is extremely knowledgeable and writes very clearly and concisely. She is also great with the clients and at dealing with practical matters."
"One to watch. She is developing a formidable practice in planning law and public law more generally. Her strengths appear to lie in High Court challenges, acting (often successfully) for the underdog. She’s extremely approachable and great with clients, who appreciate who can-do attitude, and honesty."
"One of the best of her generation, she has very strong interpersonal skills and great legal creativity."
"She's very flexible at adapting to an unfolding situation and firm in here own views as well. She is also very good at working in a team and taking a collegiate approach." "Very reassuring and approachable for clients."
"She stays calm when the pressure is on."
"She's very good, she knows her stuff, is very good with clients and writes very well."
"A very thorough strategic grasp and a light touch" "she's very good with clients".
"An extremely thorough, confident and competent advocate. Sources predict a fine future for her."